Local kids attend inaugural archery camp in Corbin

Hunner Adkins, a sixth grader at Corbin Middle School, aims his bow down range during this week’s archer camp being held at the Corbin Center for Technology and Community Activities.

While most kids are swimming at the pool, on vacation or inside playing video games, 20 kids, ranging from second grade to sixth, are taking a week off of their summer break to sharpen up on their archery skills.

Audra Valentine, of the Corbin Family Resource Center, and Megan Howard of the Corbin Community Coalition have teamed up to put on Corbin’s first archery camp. The camp, which is held at the Tech Center, began Monday, June 20 and ends Friday, June 24.

Valentine and Howard were two of eight people sent by the Corbin school system to get certified to teach archery, and then decided it would be a good idea to hold a camp. 

"It was a good way to offer these kids something to do over the summer," Howard said. "Our mission is totally focused on prevention with kids. We wanted to offer something fun, drug free and affordable."

Howard said she never imagined becoming certified as an archery teacher, but she quickly fell in love with the sport.

"It’s so individualized," Howard said. "You really rely on yourself. Which means anyone can do it. And it’s so fun."

Each day the campers are provided with breakfast, lunch and a small snack. The camp costs $35 for the week. Valentine said that they are happy with the turnout and how the camp has gone so far.

The first day, before even picking up a bow, campers spent time in a classroom learning the rules and safety procedures involved in an archery shoot. Then, on day two, they learned proper technique for shooting and practiced aiming at blank white targets. Starting off slow and not getting consumed with where the arrow landed is a big key Howard said.

"We will have some competitions and fun archery games for the kids to play later in the week," Howard said. "Then on Friday we are inviting the parents to come out so their kids can shoot for them and show off what they’ve learned. And we’re giving out some awards and T-shirts."

Though most of the attendees are first-time shooters, and archery is a new interest, the camp also has benefited two older campers, sixth graders Blake Botner and Hunner Adkins, long-time archers.

Adkins has been on Corbin’s Middle School archery team for two years, while Botner has competed in several local tournaments as an individual. Both were ecstatic when they heard about the camp and couldn’t wait to sign up.

"It’s a great place to meet new friends, hang out and get out of the house," Adkins said. "And you get to learn more about archery and not to mention you get to shoot all day long. I just knew I had to come to this camp."

Botner agreed. "I like shooting with new friends."

When Corbin’s schools started offering an archery team, Adkins, who practices now around six hours a week, jumped at the opportunity to join up. And though the sport isn’t as popular as basketball or football, Adkins and Botner are hopeful it will catch on.

"Most people don’t think it’s a real sport, but once they give it a chance they will love it. It’s real fun."